Japanese Mikawachi Hirado Porcelain Cup and Saucer Meiji Antique c 1890

A Japanese porcelain teacup and saucer with a bamboo shaped handle decorated in under-glaze cobalt blue with iron red, peach and lead-antimonate yellow over-glaze enamel decoration. The hand painted pattern consists of blue leaves and stems with red, peach and yellow flowers and two peach and red birds, possibly quails, with additional gilded decoration.

The base of each item is marked with a six character in kanji. We think that it translates as follows:

三川内 Mikawachi

私尾造 Watashi zō ( Watashi is believed be the art name of painter, zō meaning made).

This is a great example of antique Japanese Imari palette porcelain from the late 19th century dating from around 1890 during the Meiji period. A lovely example of Hirado Yaki 平戸焼, porcelain produced around the city of Sasebo, in Nagasaki prefecture on the Kyūshū island of Japan.

The saucer is 5 1/16 inches ( 12.9 cm) diameter, the cup 3 1/2 inches ( 9 cm) diameter and 1 13/16 inches ( 4.5 cm) high, it weighs 155 grammes unpacked

In good antique condition with some rubbing and loss to the gilding and a small chip to the base of the footrim of the saucer. Please see the images.

Free UK postage, international postage at cost.